Kianda

9 *Jake*

You know what, let's just be brave and ask her a few questions. I write a few words on a note and tap on her back. She turns around and I pass her the little piece of paper. I hope she's able to decipher it, my handwriting isn't very good. She reads it quickly, though, and nods back at me. I smile, just as the teacher turns around. I quickly turn my face back to normal, to not be suspicious. Apparently he doesn't notice, because he points at Jonas, who quickly answers his question. I wouldn't have been able to answer that quickly, even if I had paid attention. That kid is the biggest nerd in class. I don't care though, as long as he keeps his mouth shut in front of me and about me.

At the first break, I am able to successfully get to the tree outside unseen. Lucas is nowhere to be seen, so I guess he's just hanging with his girl Jane. Just as I drop myself on a bench, I see Sasha walk up to me. "Hey, Jake. What is it you wanted to talk about?" She sits next to me. She really smells good. She smells like the sea, but with a tint of sunflower in it. "Well, ya seem to me like a girl who would never dare to be late. Then why were ya? I know it's not that ya overslept. That's not you. So why-" I start asking her. "As if you know me. We've barely met yesterday," she interrupts me. I feel my cheeks turning red. I ignore it though, hopefully she doesn't notice. "But yes, it wasn't me. I usually wake up around 7pm. My mom was supposed to bring me here by car, because I don't have a bike and it's too far to walk. And she slept in. But I know it is useless to blame anyone else but yourself in front of teachers," she says, before I can even start a sentence. I open my mouth to ask another question, but she answers it before I can begin the question. "And I know what you want to ask of me now. Why do I not pay attention in class? That is because I read all of this," and she motions to her bag, "in a single lesson. I read fast cannot forget things very fast, so I don't need to study very hard or pay much attention in class. That some may not like me for it, I don't care." I chuckle at that last sentence. She looks at me, frowning. "I'm sorry, but it is kinda funny that ya don't care about other opinions. It is pretty brave to do so," I explain. She smiles. "Well, if that's what you think... I've never had such friends as I do here. Thank you," she says. She is such a kind girl, why didn't she? And she sees me as a friend. I smile back. "Don't worry. I'll have your back, even when ya don't think ya need it," I say, while we hear the school bell ring. "I think that's the end of our talk then. Come on, I don't want to be late again," she says, and she walks away, into school. Am I lucky to have her as a friend.

The rest of the day passes with my friends teasing me, Lucas in particular, nevertheless, nothing more interesting. Just as wednesday and thursday. But on Friday, Sasha walks up to me before school starts. Lucas and Stan were already gone to the lesson. She asks: "Hey Jake! Just a quick question, there's an archery lesson this afternoon, so we're going together, right?" she asks me. I nod and answer: "Yea, when school has ended, we'll meet at the tree?" "Sure, see you then," she says, and walks inside. I follow, as I hear the bell ring just at that moment.

History lesson is boring, as usual. We have to take a few notes, which I write down, but I know I'm never going to use them. Sasha writes them down, but she doesn't seem to care about them a lot. Her notebook is a mess. But a mess full of beautiful drawings. Sometimes, in class, I can see tiny parts of her drawings. She's doodling a lot, but her main drawing still isn't finished. It's beginning to look a lot like a boy, but who would it be then?

After I the last lesson, I throw my unnecessary books in my locker, grab my coat and walk outside. She's not there yet. I drop myself on the same bench as on Monday, holding my coat. It's not very cold yet, it's only august. After a few minutes, she walks up to me and says: "Are you ready?" I nod and stand up. "Let's go."